Hi. I’m Mike, a user experience designer.

These are some aspects of my workflow.

Stories & Goals

The process begins with conversations and stories about where clients have been, where they are, and where they’d like to be. These discussions often lead to user research, content audits, interviews with stakeholders, empathy maps, and time around the table with dry-erase boards, markers, and sticky notes.

Organization & Prioritization

The information and desires mapped out in the previous step set the stage for a process of translation into form and function. The high-level elements are organized and prioritized with object maps, site maps, and the specific details of these elements are organized and prioritized with wireframes (or page maps).

Aesthetics & Interactions

Once organized and prioritized, the interactions between the elements as well as their style begin to emerge in an iterative process that begins with sketches on paper and evolves into fully-functioning code. Style tiles, living style guides, comps, and responsive prototypes may be created along the way.

And here are a few design examples.

Web Applications

Whether leading a team or working independently, my role when designing web applications usually involves information architecture, user interface design, and prototyping.

Close ProjectFlorida Outdoor Recreation Inventory (2016) I designed and created the prototpye for the search and map-based results user interface of the upcoming Florida Outdoor Recreation Inventory web and mobile application.

Close ProjectMeteorology Course (2015) I led the UI design effort in the creation of an online Meteorology course, the first of its kind in the State of Florida.

Dashboards

I have designed the admin interfaces for a variety of web applications including learning management systems, content management systems, and customer relationship management systems.

Close ProjectNavitas Customer Account Dashboard (2016) I worked with the Navitas Credit Corp product team to design the user interface for their new mobile app used that is used as a management tool for customer accounts.

Close ProjectSPEAR Dashboard (2016) I helped the Titus Human Performance team reimagine their analytics application as a responsive dashboard.

Close ProjectRE/MAX LeadStreet (2010) I led the UI design for a new prototype of the RE/MAX control panel.

Close ProjectHomes.com Dashboard (2011) I led the UI design for the new Homes.com control panel.

Mobile Apps

Before the widespread adoption of responsive web design, I was designing user interfaces and coding HTML5/CSS3 for mobile devices. I was able to draw from over ten of experience designing and programming discs and touchscreen kiosks.

Close ProjectWeatherSTEM Mobile App (2015) I provided user interface consulting and testing for the developement team that coded the WeatherSTEM app. I also created this promotional video after the app was released.

Close ProjectAgentAdvantage mobile websites (2010) This project is the re-envisioning of a traditional real estate agent’s website for display on mobile devices. My roles in this project included project management, user interface design, and front-end development (HTML5, CSS3, and jQuery).

I’ve been designing interfaces for over 25 years, and though I didn’t expect to stay in Tallahassee beyond my days using HyperCard as an undergrad at FSU, my entire career has been shaped within Florida’s capital city. I cut my teeth as a designer at Interlight Productions, and despite that fact that both the company and the CD-i technology we used are now-defunct, the principles I learned (and wife that I met on the job) remain with me to this day. A Masters Degree focusing on New Media Communication and several years designing and authoring CD-ROMs and kiosks for clients like GlaxoSmithKline, Ziff-Davis, and BellSouth followed. In the late-90s my work shifted almost entirely to designing for the Web. The remainder of my career has largely focused on designing user interfaces and interactions, nearly a decade of which as the Design Director for Homes.com.

After the first of my four children was born, I became an early-bird. I typically start work days in my home office with a fresh cup of coffee in hand, freelancing for small businesses and non-profits. From time to time I teach as an adjunct professor at Florida State University and lead relief projects. In 2006 I founded Refresh Tallahassee (now with over 700 members), and in October of 2012 I partnered with the Unmatched Style team to bring the Converge Conference to Florida. That same month I joined the Ucompass and WeatherSTEM teams, and focused on STEM-based learning applications. In early 2017 I joined Kyra Solutions as a UX Architect.